Rajasthan BJP MP resigns alleging tickets sold, party denies (Lead)

New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Bharatpur in Rajasthan Vishwendra Singh resigned Thursday alleging that big money had changed hands in distribution of party tickets for the state assembly elections, but the party has denied the charge. In a press release issued from Delhi, Singh asserted: “The party tickets were virtually sold for huge money, at the cost of sincere party workers. The party’s central leadership was aware of all this, but it remained a mute spectator.”

BJP general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan affairs Gopinath Munde told IANS: “Singh is making this allegation because his wish that a large number of his supporters be given tickets has not been fulfilled. This was not possible,”

Asked if his exit would affect the party’s prospects in the Bharatpur region, Munde said: “It would not have any impact at all.”

Singh stated he had resigned from the party and the Lok Sabha. He will contest the Dec 4 assembly elections from Digkumher constituency in Bharatpur district.

“As an adviser to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, I closely watched the functioning of the BJP. It has become a hotbed of corruption,” Singh said.